Applied kinesiology

Overview

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Manual muscle testing in applied kinesiology

Applied kinesiology (AK) is a diagnostic method used in alternative medicine that purports to assess the health of an individual through muscle testing. Practitioners claim that certain muscle weaknesses can indicate underlying health issues, nutritional deficiencies, or imbalances in the body's energy systems.

History

Applied kinesiology was developed in the 1960s by George Goodheart, a chiropractor. Goodheart proposed that muscle testing could be used to diagnose and treat various health conditions. Over time, AK has been adopted by some chiropractors, naturopaths, and other alternative health practitioners.

Principles

The fundamental principle of applied kinesiology is that every organ dysfunction is accompanied by a specific muscle weakness. Practitioners believe that by testing the strength of specific muscles, they can identify imbalances in the body's energy systems, which are thought to be related to the meridians used in traditional Chinese medicine.

Techniques

The primary technique used in applied kinesiology is manual muscle testing. During a session, the practitioner applies pressure to a muscle while the patient resists. The practitioner assesses the muscle's response to determine if it is "strong" or "weak." A weak response is interpreted as an indication of an underlying issue.

Nutritional Testing

Practitioners of applied kinesiology may also use muscle testing to evaluate nutritional needs. They might place a substance, such as a vitamin or food, in the patient's hand or near their body and test muscle strength to determine if the substance is beneficial or harmful.

Chiropractic Adjustments

Some practitioners incorporate chiropractic adjustments into their applied kinesiology practice, using muscle testing to guide the adjustments.

Criticism

Applied kinesiology is controversial and has been criticized for lacking scientific validity. Critics argue that muscle testing is subjective and can be influenced by the expectations of both the practitioner and the patient. Studies have shown that the results of muscle testing are not reliable or reproducible.

Related pages

• Chiropractic
• Alternative medicine
• Manual therapy
• Energy medicine